Devonric Johnson wants to get the word out about his nonprofit and his acting ability, his passions. And if it means getting involved with 9-foot-tall mechanical boxing robots, so be it.

Johnson, a Terrell native, is a contestant on the Syfy channel’s Robot Combat League, which airs at 9 p.m. Tuesdays.

Johnson, 28, teams with Los Angeles resident Russell Tait to operate Brimstone, an 8-foot-2 steel and leather bot. Johnson, who played linebacker for the SMU football team, is the bot’s robo-jockey, controlling the punches, while Tait is the robo-tech, controlling the footwork.

The show is in the early stages of a 12-team tournament. In each episode, two-person teams operating the bots are matched against each other. The teams operate their boxing bots on platforms outside the arena — like an oversized Rock’em-Sock’em Robots game.

In three two-minute rounds, the bots tangle in the middle of the arena, trading blows that cause, or activate, sparks while a frenzied studio crowd cheers them on.Hosted by World Wrestling Entertainment’s Chris Jericho, the show drew more than 1.3 million viewers, Syfy’s best unscripted series premiere in two years among viewers 18-49.

Robot Combat League is Johnson’s second foray into unscripted television. In 2005, he was a contestant on VH1′s Kept, featuring Jerry Hall, Mick Jagger’s ex-wife and a native of Mesquite.

Johnson’s appearance on Kept led him to modeling jobs, commercial spots and runway shows. In February, he was cast on Robot Combat League.

“The whole purpose of being on the show is I wanted to promote my nonprofit foundation, Brothers By Choice,” Johnson said by phone from his LA home. “Basically, we’re helping at-risk kids. I was an at-risk kid who was homeless and in a gang before I was 13.”

Taping for the nine episodes has wrapped and, of course, Johnson can’t say anything about the outcome. But he took time recently to discuss his involvement with Robot Combat League, his career and his nonprofit.

Boxing robots? Really?

You think about the whole idea behind the boxing robots and you’d think no one would want to be a part of it. But Real Steel made it popular. Of course, it’s not quite like the robots in the movie. But there’s some amazing technology going on out there … and it’s just going to get better. We’re getting there.

Did you own Rock’em Sock’em Robots?

Rock’em Sock-em Robots was a little before my time, but I know it’s iconic and [this show] is the same idea.”

How did you go from acting to robots?

I had always done theater. I’m a theater person. Scripted or unscripted, you have to perform in front of the camera. I’d been doing some auditions for my other agents. The casting directors were interested in my story and asked me to audition for this show. I wasn’t sure at first because I’d already done a reality show and I wasn’t sure there was anymore that I could do. Then they told me it’s more of a competition. I’m an ex-football player working a fighting robot. I thought it would be exciting and something right up my alley.

What’s it like to be a robo-jockey?

Pretty intense. Pretty heavy. It’s a different feeling having that thing on. It’s hard to explain. It’s like I’m shadow boxing. It’s hard to see where you’re going to punch, and there’s like a two- or three-second delay. I think the defensive part of is the hardest. Your natural reaction is to protect your face and protect the midsection. I’ve done training in kung fu and it helps on the offensive and defensive side. But the robots react totally different. It’s definitely like a video game. You’ll see people with no athletic training, learn on the fly and do a good job.

Are you vying to become the next Jamie Foxx, another athlete-turned-actor out of Terrell?

I know his best friend, one of my old basketball coaches. We talk every now and then, but I haven’t had the chance to meet Jamie.

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